8 Weird Ingredients Hiding In The Food We Eat Every Day

Kate is a writer who laughs at her own jokes and likes to pour too much hot sauce on her food.

Do you read the ingredients on food packaging before you buy something?

Even though this is something we all should probably do, in the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, most of us, well, don’t.

Excuses for why run the gamut, the most obvious being, do we really want to know what’s lurking inside our food?

Because, the simple fact is, tons of our favorite foods contain ingredients that don’t sound all that edible. Of course, this doesn’t stop them from being delicious, but some of these ingredients do raise eyebrows.

Before you start worrying, note that all of these ingredients are FDA approved, and are deemed safe to eat.

With that said, you might think twice about reaching for your favorite foods after reading the list below.

4. Antifreeze

That being said, a key ingredient in antifreeze can be found in a lot of foods.

The “primary ingredient used in non-toxic antifreeze” is called propylene glycol, according to the Daily Meal. Propylene glycol is also found in flavored iced teas, some ice cream, boxed cake mix, frosting, artificial sweeteners, and soft drinks, according to LEAFtv.

5. Beetles

Laura Caseley For LittleThings

Who would have thought that some of the scrumptious red-dyed foods we eat contain beetles?

According to Live Science, carmine, also known as cochineal extract or natural red 4, includes powdered beetles.

Some common foods that contain this type of dye are strawberry yogurts, red velvet cake mixes, and various multivitamins, according to Citizens for Health.

6. Other Bugs

Laura Caseley For LittleThings

Bugs might be considered delicacies in some countries, but for most people, they are something to avoid eating at all costs.

Still, chances are that you have consumed a bug or two in your life, whether you know it or not.

The FDA allows up to 136 insect fragments in a 16-ounce jar before the food is labeled defected, according to Men’s Health.

7. Sawdust

Laura Caseley For LittleThings

Eating the right amount of fiber is an essential part of having regular bowel movements.

However, some foods that have extra fiber added to them are actually just including a form of wood pulp or sawdust.

According to NPR, wood pulp is often added to things like shredded cheese and items at fast-food restaurants.

8. Wax

Laura Caseley For LittleThings

Wax is great for candles or removing hair from our skin, but in our food? Not so much.

It turns out that a type of wax that is used to make cars shiny is also used to make gummy bears and other gummy candy.

Brittanica explains that carnauba is extracted from a palm tree in Brazil and is highly prized for its “gelling agent” properties.